NEWS RELEASE
(ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Virginia)—Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) has seen promising improvement in student performance on the Virginia Department of Education’s Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments across all subjects. The division’s overall pass rates surpass state averages in key areas; however, achievement gaps remain, particularly among historically underserved student groups.
According to results from the 2024 SOL assessments, 75% of ACPS students passed the reading test, an increase from last year’s 74% and above the statewide average of 73%. The SOL assessments, conducted annually in the spring, measure student achievement in subjects such as reading, math, science, and social studies for students in grades 3-8.
While the overall trends and trends for specific demographic groups are positive, pass rates for Black and Hispanic students, students from economically disadvantaged households, students with disabilities, and English Learners continue to fall below the division-wide averages. For example, while 75% of students overall passed the reading SOL, only 50% of Black students, 49% of Hispanic students, 44% of students with disabilities, 50% of economically disadvantaged students, and 38% of English Learners met the benchmark.
Dr. Chandra Hayes, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, acknowledged both the progress and the ongoing challenges. “I am pleased with the improvements we’ve made, and there is still significant work to be done to ensure equity and excellence for all students,” Hayes said.
Math scores also improved, with 72% of students passing the math SOL, up from 69% in 2023 and above the state average of 71%. Despite these gains, the division continues to focus on closing achievement gaps among different demographic groups.
“We are excited to implement several new, high-quality instructional materials, such as the HMH Into Reading curriculum for elementary students, and to continue using intervention tools like Lexia for literacy and Zearn for math,” added Hayes.
Looking ahead, the Virginia Department of Education will soon release accreditation ratings for each school in the division. These ratings consider not only SOL pass rates, but also the academic growth students have shown throughout the year. ACPS anticipates that 20 of its 24 schools will be fully accredited, with the remaining four schools accredited with conditions, an improvement from the 2022-23 school year.
ACPS has also been addressing chronic absenteeism, which has shown a decline since the division began ramping up efforts to support student attendance during the 2023-24 school year. The decrease in chronic absenteeism is closely linked to the closing of achievement gaps. Emphasizing the importance of this trend, Hayes said: “When students are present in school, they receive the face-to-face instruction and peer interaction necessary for meaningful learning.”
To further reduce absenteeism, ACPS will continue to enhance student support services, particularly in the areas of mental health, and strengthen direct-to-family communication strategies.
For detailed division and school-specific SOL results, please visit the “Assessments” section of the Albemarle County Public Schools Quality Profile.
CONTACT: Helen Dunn, Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Officer
PHONE: 434-249-8379